Healthgrades Study Finds Patients Treated at Hospitals Receiving 5 Stars are 61% Less Likely to Experience a Major Complication

According to a new report from Healthgrades, Mississippi Baptist Medical Center is named among America’s 100 best hospitals in the nation for orthopedic surgery, joint replacement, general surgery, prostatectomy and gastrointestinal care. Healthgrades is the leading provider of information to help consumers make an informed decision about a physician or hospital. The report, American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, evaluates how approximately 4,500 hospitals nationwide performed on risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates for nearly 30 of the most common conditions treated and procedures performed from 2009 through 2011.

“We are very pleased and proud to be recognized with these outstanding Healthgrades quality ratings. This study demonstrates Baptist’s commitment to clinical excellence,” said Baptist Medical Center CEO Kerry Tirman. “As a hospital, in partnership with our medical staff, we have made it our goal to be leaders in quality care. This recognition validates our collaborative efforts to improve quality and illustrates our focus on patient care.”

Hospital outcomes and complication rates are important in the eyes of consumers making choices today about their healthcare. According to new research conducted by Harris Interactive for Healthgrades, 90% of Americans in 27 top designated market areas agree they would be more likely to choose—or not choose—a hospital if they could learn ahead of time their chances of complications for a certain procedure.

America's Best 100 Hospitals – Mississippi Baptist Medical CenterOne of HealthGrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery™ for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)One of HealthGrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement™ for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)One of HealthGrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Prostatectomy™ for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)One of HealthGrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal Care™ in 2013One of HealthGrades America’s 100 Best Hospitals for General Surgery™ for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)Orthopedic

Other notable Healthgrades recognitions include: • Recipient of the HealthGrades Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award™ for 3 Years in a Row (2011-2013)• Recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award™ for 3 Years in a Row (2011-2013)• Ranked Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Orthopedic Services for 3 Years in a Row (2011-2013)• Ranked Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Joint Replacement for 3 Years in a Row (2011-2013)• Ranked #3 in MS for Overall Orthopedic Services in 2013• Ranked #1 in MS for Joint Replacement in 2013• Ranked #6 in MS for Spine Surgery in 2013• Ranked Among the Top 10 in MS for Overall Orthopedic Services for 11 Years in a Row (2003-2013) (Ranked 3 in 2013)• Ranked Among the Top 10 in MS for Joint Replacement for 5 Years in a Row (2009-2013) (Ranked 1 in 2013)• Ranked Among the Top 10 in MS for Spine Surgery in 2013 (Ranked 6 in 2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Overall Orthopedic Services for 3 Years in a Row (2011-2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Joint Replacement for 5 Years in a Row (2009-2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Spine Surgery in 2013• Five-Star Recipient for Total Knee Replacement for 5 Years in a Row (2009-2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Total Hip Replacement for 3 Years in a Row (2011-2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Back and Neck Surgery (except Spinal Fusion) in 2013Vascular• Recipient of the HealthGrades Vascular Surgery Excellence Award™ for 9 Years in a Row (2005-2013)• Ranked Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Vascular Surgery for 3 Years in a Row (2011-2013)• Ranked #1 in MS for Vascular Surgery for 3 Years in a Row (2011-2013)• Ranked Among the Top 5 in MS for Vascular Surgery for 10 Years in a Row (2004-2013) (Ranked 1 in 2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Vascular Surgery for 3 Years in a Row (2011-2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Carotid Surgery for 11 Years in a Row (2003-2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Peripheral Vascular Bypass for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)Individual• Recipient of the HealthGrades Prostatectomy Excellence Award™ for 4 Years in a Row (2010-2013)• Ranked Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Prostatectomy for 4 Years in a Row (2010-2013)• Ranked #2 in MS for Prostatectomy in 2013• Ranked Among the Top 5 in MS for Prostatectomy for 4 Years in a Row (2010-2013) (Ranked 2 in 2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Prostatectomy for 10 Years in a Row (2004-2013)Gastrointestinal• Recipient of the HealthGrades Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award™ in 2013• Recipient of the HealthGrades General Surgery Excellence Award™ for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)• Ranked Among the Top 5% in the Nation for Overall GI Services in 2013• Ranked Among the Top 5% in the Nation for General Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)• Ranked #1 in MS for GI Services for 6 Years in a Row (2008-2013)• Ranked #1 in MS for General Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)• Ranked #1 in MS for GI Medical Treatment in 2013• Ranked Among the Top 5 in MS for GI Services for 9 Years in a Row (2005-2013) (Ranked 1 in 2013)• Ranked Among the Top 5 in MS for General Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013) (Ranked 1 in 2013)• Ranked Among the Top 5 in MS for GI Medical Treatment in 2013 (Ranked 1 in 2013)• Five-Star Recipient for General Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2012-2013)• Five-Star Recipient for GI Procedures and Surgeries in 2013• Five-Star Recipient for Treatment of Bowel Obstruction for 4 Years in a Row (2010-2013)• Five-Star Recipient for Cholecystectomy for 9 Years in a Row (2005-2013)

For its analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 40 million Medicare hospitalization records for services performed from 2009 through 2011 at approximately 4,500 short-term, acute care hospitals nationwide. Patients being treated in hospitals receiving 5 stars have, on average, 61% lower risk of experiencing a complication while in the hospital than if they were treated by hospitals receiving 1 star (based on 2009-2011 data across nine common procedures and diagnoses such as total knee replacement, gallbladder, and spine surgeries). Additionally, a total of 183,534 in-hospital complications could have been avoided if all hospitals performed at a 5-star level.

The 2013 Healthgrades hospital quality outcomes were posted today and are free to the public at www.healthgrades.com.

“Patients today have a wide array of options when it comes to choosing a health care provider,” Tirman added. “Baptist defines quality in a variety of ways including clinical quality of care, physician credentials, and patient experience. Patients might see quality as the cleanliness of the facility or convenient parking. All are important. In this case, our quality efforts have been recognized for how we treat illnesses and measure outcomes.”

Healthgrades independently measures hospitals based on data that hospitals submit to the federal government. No hospital can opt in or out of the analysis, and no hospital pays to be measured.Healthgrades risk adjusts for patient demographic characteristics and clinical risk factors, thereby taking into account how sick patients are upon admission.

More information on the American Hospital Quality Outcomes 2013: Healthgrades Report to the Nation, including the complete methodology, can be found at www.healthgrades.com/quality.

About Mississippi Baptist Medical CenterBaptist Health Systems is the parent company of Baptist Medical Center, The Mississippi Hospital for Restorative Care, Baptist Medical Center-Leake in Carthage, Miss. and a number of related healthcare services and programs. For over 100 years, Baptist Medical Center has served Mississippi and the surrounding states as a Christian-based, non-profit comprehensive medical center. Visit Baptist on the web at www.mbhs.org.